Where Is McKinney, Texas and What Makes It So Amazing?
Imagine a picture-perfect city, where you could leave the fast pace of the big city behind but still enjoy the amenities that come with living in a metropolitan area. A place where your neighbors know your name, where you can either spend your evenings enjoying a quiet Texan sunset or liven things up with a night on the town. Places like this really do exist, and proof can be found in McKinney, Texas.
At Taylor Morrison, we think of McKinney as a little slice of paradise, and we’re pretty sure that you’re going to feel the same way.
But where is McKinney, you ask?
It’s nestled in the heartbeat of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and it’s the home of our Willowcreek at Auburn Hills community. It’s one of our favorite places in northern Texas and we can’t wait to tell you all about it.
Where Is McKinney, Texas?
McKinney is a growing, thriving city that sits just over 30 miles north of Dallas. It’s the county seat of Collin County, where it holds the number two spot to Plano as the largest city. That isn’t to say that McKinney is buzzing with the same energy as other larger cities in the area. In fact, even though it’s ranked in the top twenty of Texas’s most populous and fastest growing cities, the atmosphere is quite different from what you’ll find in the nearby metro areas.
McKinney sits nestled between Dallas and the northern state border. It serves as a transitional point between the major DFW metro area and the wide open, big sky country of northern Texas. In other words, McKinney is the best of both worlds.
You’ll find that this blend of big city and small town culture is one of the many reasons that professionals and growing households are flocking to the area. With Plano, Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth all being a reasonable commute away, McKinney has become the perfect respite to call home for people who work in the DFW metro area.
Enjoying Historic Downtown McKinney
McKinney has the distinction of being home to one of the oldest thriving historic downtown areas in the entire state of Texas. The charming downtown area still holds its aesthetic appeal from days gone by, but unlike many other historic downtown areas, the one in McKinney has grown with the community to provide restaurants and boutiques that easily compete with anything that you’ll find in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Historic downtown McKinney is home to more than 120 unique shops and boutiques, along with plenty of restaurants, cafes and galleries. It’s become the hub of culture and leisure for the city, and you’ll find it easy to lose an entire day strolling along the square, window shopping and engaging with groups of people that are always friendly and welcoming.
The energy and vibrancy of the historic downtown district are impossible to describe in words but don’t worry. Between the shopping, eateries, nightlife and community events, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to get more acquainted with the district and discover for yourself why everyone loves this thriving central area of McKinney.
A Trip Back into Time
While spending a day in the historic district is a great way to see how the past connects to the future, it isn’t the only historical location in McKinney. Between being the county seat of Collin County and the close proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, McKinney has plenty of its own history to share – and one of the places you can go to get a glimpse of it is Chestnut Square Historical Park.
Located just a few blocks south of the downtown district, a stroll through the park will put you face to face with nearly a dozen buildings that were constructed in the late 1800s through the turn of the century. These buildings – mostly built between 1854 and 1930 – have all been perfectly preserved and now serve as a visual reminder of McKinney’s growth over the years.
With volunteers that dress up in period costumes and live demonstrations on the activities of daily life in McKinney during that time period, it’s easy to let yourself slip back into time and enjoy the beauty and simplicity of days gone by.
Small Town Charm with Big Ideals
While McKinney has become one of the choice locations for professionals working in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it’s not uncommon for someone who is accustomed to big city life to worry about acclimating to a smaller city. Even though McKinney isn’t a small town, it definitely has a different energy than the vibe coming from the metro area that lies just to the south.
For people who commute back and forth each day, the change of pace is refreshing, but it’s hardly a culture shock. McKinney is a city that’s rich in culture and history while focusing on being progressive and moving into the future. With some of the top-rated schools in the area, a state of the art medical center, a diverse economic base and industrial employers who are committed to sustainable and green practices, McKinney will continue being one of the most favored, growing communities in northern Texas.
Experience McKinney for Yourself
If you’re considering McKinney, Texas as the possible location of your new home, we’d like to encourage you to visit and immerse yourself in the culture for a day or two. At Taylor Morrison, we have high standards for the cities and towns that we choose to build our communities in, and McKinney has exceeded every one of them.
We invite you to contact us and let us introduce you to our Willowcreek at Auburn Hills community. Our homes are built with luxurious open floor plans, top of the line gourmet kitchens and the type of views out your window that can only be found in Texas. Your mind is going to be made up once you experience McKinney and the beauty of Willowcreek at Auburn Hills.
Contact Taylor Morrison today to learn more.